Our Weekly Tip: Planning a Green Funeral When a Loved One Dies Suddenly

Our Tip of the Week: Most green burials are planned ahead of time. There are times, however, when a death occurs suddenly and the family wants a green burial, often to honor what they believe their loved one would have wanted. Finding a green funeral home and cemetery can take some time and effort, but it can still be done.

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How-to Suggestions: The first thing to do is visit The Green Burial Council online. As of 2015, the Green Burial Council listed over 300 green cemeteries in 41 states and six Canadian provinces. If you can’t find a green cemetery nearby, call a local funeral home and explain the situation. They may be able to make other suggestions, such as transporting your loved one’s body to a green cemetery in another area. You may also want to consider cremation, a home burial, or a hybrid cemetery that allows cement vaults as well as biodegradable materials. Be sure that any funeral home you work with does not embalm your loved one’s body. Request refrigeration or dry ice instead.

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Typically, green funeral homes and cemeteries provide viewing without embalming, home viewing (if the family wants it), biodegradable burial, and cremation containers and non-chemical measures of preservation. Green cemeteries prohibit cement vaults. The body of your loved one is typically buried in a shroud, cardboard box, or simple pine or other wooden box.

Many young people are concerned about the environment but don’t have the chance to make funeral arrangements that reflect their values. If your loved one dies suddenly, you can still take steps to ensure that their wishes are respected.